Modi to face his 1st no-confidence motion Friday

New Delhi Correspondent
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will face his first no-confidence motion brought by the opposition in parliament since assuming power more than four years ago on Friday.
However, the no-trust motion does not threaten the stability of the Modi government which has the support of 273 lawmakers in the Lok Sabha, the lower House of parliament, much more than the majority mark.
The Lok Sabha would take up the debate on the no-confidence motion against the Modi government brought by the Telugu Desam Party, a regional outfit which quit BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in March this year, and other opposition parties, with Speaker Sumitra Mahajan admitting the notice.

“The House will take up the debate (on the motion) on Friday, July 20th. The discussion will be held for the full day, followed by voting on it,” Mahajan announced in the House when it reassembled after the lunch break on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
Mahajan said “more than 50 lawmakers are supporting the no-confidence motion, so the leave is granted (to bring in no-confidence motion).”

Mahajan had earlier during the budget session of parliament refused to admit no-trust motion sought to be moved by TDP and its regional rival YSR Congress party saying the motion could not be taken up as there was “no order” in the Lok Sabha.

The admission of the no-confidence motion today gave a stormy start to the nearly month-long monsoon session of parliament with a confrontation between the government and the opposition.

The opposition parties said their no-trust motions are meant for flagging the issues of mob lynching, cow vigilantism, attacks on Dalits and higher financial package for Andhra Pradesh as demanded by the TDP. The financial package was one of the issues over which the TDP snapped its tie-up with NDA.

Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge demanded that the largest party be allowed to move the motion but the Speaker said that as per rules, the party which raises the motion first, gets to move it.

“It’s not a question of big party, small party… Those who brought the no-confidence motion, I read all the rules. The person who first brought the motion, has to be called
first,” Mahajan said.

As Kharge pressed the demand that all members who brought in the motion should be allowed to move it, an angry Mahajan said “You go through the record… I have gone
according to the rule”.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said the government is prepared to face the no-confidence motion brought in by several parties. “The entire country has confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.

Earlier this morning, Modi reached out to opposition parties ahead of the start of the session when he told the media that if any party or any member wants to discuss an issue, “we are ready to discuss it”.

“I hope every MP, every party will make this a fruitful session. I always express this hope and make that effort. I am hoping this time too,” he said.

Calling for extensive discussion in the monsoon session, Modi said asserted that his government was ready for debate on any issue raised by political parties.

“The more extensive the discussion in Parliament, the better it is for the country,” he said adding that it will always help his government in decision-making.